History Film / WinWin

Attorney and volunteer HighSchool wrestling coach Mike Flaherty (Creator/PaulGiamatti) is running out of money, with both his house and his office needing repairs. Out of desperation, he arranges to become the guardian of a rich, elderly dementia patient to get the $1500-a-month stipend from the state and puts the old man in a nursing home paid for by the client's own estate. Things get complicated when the old man's teenage grandson unexpectedly shows up, having run away from home. At first sullen and uncommunicative, Kyle later warms up to Mike's family and starts wrestling on Mike's team - as it turns out, he's a talented wrestler who seems destined for a bright future. Then his mother shows up, fresh from rehab...

* TheCastShowoff: Alex Shaffer (Kyle) had never acted before but was the 2010 New Jersey state high school wrestling champ.

Attorney and volunteer HighSchool wrestling coach Mike Flaherty (Creator/PaulGiamatti) is running out of money, with both his house and his office needing repairs. Out of desperation, he arranges to become the guardian of a rich, elderly Dementia patient to get the $1500-a-month stipend from the state and puts the old man in a nursing home paid for by the client's own estate. Things get complicated when the old man's teenage grandson unexpectedly shows up, having run away from home. At first sullen and uncommunicative, Kyle later warms up to Mike's family and starts wrestling on Mike's team - as it turns out, he's a talented wrestler who seems destined for a bright future. Then his mother shows up, fresh from rehab...

This film contains examples of:

* GoodSmokingEvilSmoking: Mike buys a pack of cigarettes and lights up next to the dumpster behind the store when he gets ''really'' stressed out. Kyle smokes[[hottip:*:though is never seen doing so up close, since not only is his actor underage but also a championship-level student athlete]] but quits when he joins the team.

* UnnecessaryRoughness: [[spoiler: [[SubvertedTrope Subverted]] Kyle resorts to fighting dirty in a match after his BerserkButton is pressed.]]

Attorney and volunteer HighSchool wrestling coach Mike Flaherty (PaulGiamatti) is running out of money, with both his house and his office needing repairs. Out of desperation, he arranges to become the guardian of a rich, elderly Dementia patient to get the $1500-a-month stipend from the state and puts the old man in a nursing home paid for by the client's own estate. Things get complicated when the old man's teenage grandson unexpectedly shows up, having run away from home. At first sullen and uncommunicative, Kyle later warms up to Mike's family and starts wrestling on Mike's team - as it turns out, he's a talented wrestler who seems destined for a bright future. Then his mother shows up, fresh from rehab...

Attorney and volunteer HighSchool wrestling coach Mike Flaherty (PaulGiamati) is running out of money, with both his house and his office needing repairs. Out of desperation, he arranges to become the guardian of a rich, elderly Dementia patient to get the $1500-a-month stipend from the state and puts the old man in a nursing home paid for by the client's own estate. Things get complicated when the old man's teenage grandson unexpectedly shows up, having run away from home. At first sullen and uncommunicative, Kyle later warms up to Mike's family and starts wrestling on Mike's team - as it turns out, he's a talented wrestler who seems destined for a bright future. Then his mother shows up, fresh from rehab...

Attorney and volunteer HighSchool wrestling coach Mike Flaherty (PaulGiamati) is running out of money, with both his house and his office needing repairs. Out of desperation, he arranges to become the guardian of a rich, elderly Dementia patient to get the $1500-a-month stipend from the state and puts the old man in a nursing home paid for by the client's own estate. Then, the old man's teenage grandson shows up. At first sullen and uncommunicative, Kyle later warms up to Mike's family and starts wrestling on Mike's team - as it turns out, he's amazing on this. Then his mother shows up, fresh from rehab...

* BerserkButton: For Kyle, his mother, even seeing her can cause a sudden and jarring emotional reaction.

** What Mike's doing in the ending is mentioned earlier.

* {{Foreshadowing}}: Mr. Poplar referring "his park."

* GoodSmokingEvilSmoking: Mike buys a pack of cigarettes and lights up next to the Dumpster behind the store when he gets ''really'' stressed out. Kyle smokes[[hottip:*:though is never seen doing so up close, since not only is his actor underage but also a championship-level student athlete]] but quits when he joins the team.
* IllegalGuardian: Techincally, Mike to Mr. Poplar.
* LovableJock: Kyle is an incredible athlete that could possible get scholarships, his teammates all love his enthusiasm and commitment though instead of being threatened by him.

* PutMeInCoach: One of the friend's Kyle makes wants to wrestle at Kyle weight class, he agrees and Kyle convinces the coaches to let him in even though he has never wrestled before.

* UnnecessaryRoughness: [[spoiler: [[SubvertedTrope Subverted]] As Kyle, not his opponent beings to fight dirty after his BerserkButton is pressed.]]

* CallBack: What Mike's doing in the ending is mentioned earlier.
** Also, Mr. Poplar referring to a park as his park is explained later in the movie.

Attorney and volunteer HighSchool wrestling coach Mike Flaherty is running out of money, with both his house and his office needing repairs. Out of desperation, he arranges to become the guardian of an elderly Alzheimer's patient to get the $1500-a-month stipend from the state and puts the old man in a nursing home paid for by the client's own estate. Then, the old man's teenage grandson shows up. At first sullen and uncommunicative, Kyle later warms up to Mike's family and starts wrestling on Mike's team - as it turns out, he's amazing on this. Then his mother shows up, fresh from rehab...

* TheCastShowoff: Alex Shaffer (Kyle) had never acted before but was the 2010 New Jersey state high school wrestling champ.

* TheCastShowoff: Inverted (and pinned to the mat). Alex Shaffer (Kyle) had never acted before but was the 2010 New Jersey state high school wrestling champ.